‘Good Samaritan’ bill urged for drug epidemic

A proposed new criminal immunity for “good Samaritans” who try to aid people experiencing drug overdoses will save lives and assist defence counsel, if it becomes law, say proponents of federal Bill C-224.

At press time, the fate of the proposed Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act was very much up in the air as the Liberal private member’s bill awaited final approval by the Senate (possibly in late March), after obtaining rare unanimous support from MPs last year.